TONIGHT (Friday) sees the start of the Bushey Festival which is offering fun and entertainment to residents during a two-week celebration.

Musical prodigies from the Purcell School of Music in Aldenham Road, Bushey, will be opening the festival at the school at 8.30pm.

Following the concert will be the Bushey Carnival tomorrow (Saturday). The parade starts at noon and will proceed through the village towards Bushey Hall School in London Road, Bushey, where a summer fete will take place at 1.30pm.

In the school's grounds there will be stalls, food and music as well as a tug of war competition. There are still places available for a team of eight to enter and the winning group will receive a barrel of beer.

A performance by the Sealed Knot, a re-enactment group, is also on the menu. Villagers will be transported back in time to the days of the Roundheads and Cavaliers when the group stage a battle scene at the fete. They are also expected to take part in the carnival parade march playing pipes and drums.

Carnival parade organiser Mr Ken Moxley said: 'The parade this year is expected to be bigger and better.

'For the first time since the festival has been running, High Street and High Road, Bushey, will be closed to all traffic from noon until 1.30pm.

'I would like to advise people to avoid using their cars in this area as there will be a lot of congestion until the road re-opens.'

Throughout the two weeks children and adults of all ages have the chance to take part in different shows and events.

Flower arrangements by local green-fingered residents will be on display from next Friday at the United Reform Church in High Street, Bushey, and a stunning evening of opera with a buffet supper is to be held on Saturday, June 15, at the new Bushey Centre in High Street, which opened in March. The programme includes excerpts from Bizet, Puccini and Gershwin.

The festival will close with a gala concert at 7.30pm on Saturday, July 22, and will feature the Festival Choir and Orchestra. The millennium finale will be staged at the International University site in The Avenue, Bushey.

For more information about the festival telephone 020 8950 2283 or to enter a team for the tug of war competition telephone 020 8950 2357.